Traffic-control relay and system



1930. J. J. BEVINGTON ET AL 1,744,822

TRAFFIC CONTROL RELAY AND SYSTEM Filed 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1930. J. J. BEVINGTON El AL 197445822 TRAFFIC CONTROL RELAY AND SYSTEM Filed 21. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Lwenzfors: Jam :ZiBer/L'Wm and flakuczrazyfiasemae 2:9,

Jan. 28, 1930. J. J. BEVINGTON ET AL TRAFFIC CONTROL RELAY AND SYSTEM Filed Feb' 21... 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet (Z9 MYM Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JULIUS J. BEVINGTON AND EDWARD N. ROSENBERG, OF TOLEDO, OHIO TRAFFIC-CONTROL RELAY AND SYSTEM.

Application filed February 21,1927, Serial No. 169,719.

a continuation in part of our prior application Serial N 0. 39,634, filed June 26, 1925, for traffic control system.

Numerous systems have been designed for automatically controlling the flow of trafiic 1 at street intersections but in the majority of cases these systems, when electrically operated and when a considerable number are utilized along a street. require such amperage as to render them too expensive for practical purposes. Furthermore, it is quiteessential for properly regulated traflic that the various signals be synchronously operated and heretofore traffic control systems have employed independent controllers which are so difficult to adjust for conjoint operation over extended periods of time that they have not proved especially satisfactory.

The objects of this invention are to overcome the above difiiculties and to provide an automatic traffic control system operated by relays, to signal traffic to pass in say north and south directions while east and west bound traiiic is signalled to stop, for a predetermined time, then to indicate for a predetermined time to all traflic, bound north, south, east and west, that the signals are about to be changed, then to signal east and west bound trafic to proceed and north and south bound traific to stop for a predetermined time, and then to again throw on for a predetermined time the warning signals for all trafiic that the signals are about to be changed, andthen to signal traflic to pass north and south while stopping east and west bound traflic, as before, and so on continuously; provision being made to stop all traflic bound in all directions for the propose of giving right of way to fire engines and the like.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings in.

which 1 Fig.1 is a front elevation of the relay part.

of the system, the two individual relays being shown in the position for permitting the passage of traflic bound either-north or south or east and west, and for stopping trafiic bound respectively either east and west or north and south.

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking from the left of Fig. 1, this view being in section with reipectlto the lower relay along the line 22 of Fig. 3 is a plan view'of either of the left side mercury switches and associated parts taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 5 is a view partly in section of one of the left side mercury switches in open or neutral position, as seen from the right thereof.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showmg the contacts immersed in the mercury.

Specifically, our relay device comprises a panel board 1 of slate or other insulating ma terial adapted to support the parts fastened thereon. Each relay comprises electro-magnets consisting of coils 2, 3 wound in aiding relation to each other and each coil may have a suitable core, as 4 and 5 respectively; while cooperating with such coils is a polarized armature 6 mounted to pivot about the pin 7 under the influence of the above mentioned coils. The pin 7 is suitably supported by the base plate 1. It will be apparent that one end of the armature 6 will be attracted u wardly while the other end thereof will e repelled downwardly when the current passes through the coils in one direction, and that the armature will swing in the other direction upon reversal of such current.

An upwardly projecting bar 7 is afiixed to the armature 6 preferably symmetrically thereof, such arm 7 supporting a forwardly projecting pin 8, said pin being caused to swing either to the right or to the left along an arc of a circle by the tilting .of the armature 6.

- Fixed to the base plate 1 is a supporting piece 9 on which the coils 2 and 3 aresupported by the threadedbolts 10, the nuts 11 7 holding themin fiired position. A pivot pin 12 is attached; to the supporting member 9- directly over the pin 7 about which the arma- 6 tilts, an arm 13 being pivoted to swing at the end thereof about the pin. This arm 13' therein through which the pin 8 projects and .contacts loosely with the sides thereof. Two

pins 18 and 19 are fastened to a connectin member or link 40 to be described later and these pins are located one on each side of the portion 15, leaving a little space for play of the arm between them.

Brackets 20 are firmly attached to the base plate 1 and these brackets comprise pivotalsupports for the mercury switches 21 and 22. These switches have tapered holes at each end of the axes thereof which fit upon the tapered pins 23, 24 insulatably mounted upon the frame 20, one of these pins as '24 being adjustable toward or away from the pin 23 by means of the screw threads 25 thereon tting within corresponding screw threads in the hole 26 through the support 20. After adjustment of the pin 25 it may be fixed in position by means of the nut 27. Each of these mercury switches has three contacts 28 therein arranged in the same axial plane and the ends thereof are substantially in line with each other. A substantially cylindrical casing 29, preferably of glass, surrounds the contacts and contains a properly sized globule of mercury 30 which is of suflicient depth to immerse the ends of the three contacts 28 when they point directly downwardly, and thus makes electric contact between them. Each of these contacts 28 is electrically connected with a coiled wire 31 which may lead respectively to a binding post 32, it being understood that the contacts are insulated from each other, as are the coiled wires. A metal collar 33 is sealed to the casing 29 at one end thereof and is in electrical contact with the right hand contact wire 28 as seen in Fig.5, while another metal collar 34 is sealed to the glass casing 29 at the other end thereof and is likewise in electrical contact with the left hand contact wire 28 as seen in the same figure; while the central contact wire 28 is led in through the cylindrical side of the glass and is in elec trical contact with the metal collar 35. The coiled wires 31 may be soldered to or otherwise electrically and mechanically attached to the collars. Surrounding the metal collar 34 is an insulating strip 35 and on this strig is fastened an arm 36 which is thus insulate from any conductive part of the mercury switch. For the sake of convenience the arm 36 comprises a split portion the two parts of which are held together by the screw 37. Holes 38 are provided in the lever members 36 through which pass bolts 39, said bolts also passing loosel through the ends of the link 40 which is t e link. carrying the pins 18 and 19 as previously described.

It will thus be apparent that when the coils 2 and 3 cause the left hand end of the armature 6 to move upwardly and the right hand end thereof to move downwardly as indicated in the top half of Fig. 1, the pin 8 will swing a short distance to the right and thereby cause the arm 13 likewise to swing to the right. The lower end 15 of this arm 13 will thereby strike against and move the pin 19 and link 40 to the right, thereby causing the mercury switches to rotate counterclockwise. The contacts 28 are so arranged in the right hand mercury switch that they will be thereby immersed in the mercury and thus placed in electrical circuit with each other, while the contacts in the left hand mercury switch are so arranged that they will remain out of electrical contact with each other. If, on the other hand, the current be reversed in the coils 2, 3 whereby the left end of the armature 6 will be swung downwardly and the right end thereof upwardly, then the three contacts in the left mercury switch will be immersed in the mercury and electrical contact will thereby be made between them, but the contacts in the right mercury switch will then remain out of electrical contact with each other. It will thus be seen that when the current is passed through the coils in one direction only the right hand mercury switch will operate, while if this current be reversed then only the left hand mercury switch will operate. WVith no current passlng through the coils both mercury switches are normally open, the arms 7 and 13 then being normally in vertical position, and this may be caused either by attaching tension springs 41, 42 to the lower part of the arm 15 at one end of each, the other end of each spring being attached respectively to a flexi ble member, for example a thread 43, each passing through a hole in a screw threaded member 44 having a screw threaded connection with an insulating block 45 fastened to the base 1. Such block may also carry the binding posts 32, preferably in stepped relation as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the binding posts may be as nearly as possible in line with the corresponding collars33, 34 and 35.

The springs 41, 42 may be used alone for the purpose of normally keeping the mercury switches in open position, or the arms 38 may be weighted and attached to the mercury switches in such relation that the levers will point downwardly simultaneously when the contacts in both mercury switches are so positioned that they are not immersed in the mercury. As a matter of fact either means for maintaining normal open position may be used alone, or they may be used in combina tion with each other.

As indicated on Fig. 1 there are two like cooperating relays and associated parts, and for the sake of convenience one is located above the other on the base panel 1. Each of these -relays operates either one of two mercury switches, so that both together operate four such switches. The three contacts of say the upper left mercury switch may lead one to a source of power, one to say the north and south green Go lights, and the third to say the east and west red Stop lights; in which case the three contacts of the upper right mercury switch will lead one to the source of power, one to the north and south red Stop lights and one to the east and west green Go lights; and it is thus obvious that functioning of the upper relay will thereby effect a signal that the north and south traflic should proceed while the east and stop, or vice versa.

The lower relay and all its associated parts are the same as the upper relay and its associated parts, the only difierence being that the contacts of the two lower mercury switches lead off to dilferent circuits. The three contacts of say the lower left mercury switch may lead one to a source of power, another to the north and south amber or Caution lights and the third to the east and west amber or Caution lights, so thatwhen this switch is in operation all traflic is warned of an imminent change of signals. The three contacts of the lower right mercury switch may then lead one to a source of power, one to the north and south red Sto lights and one to the east and west red top lights, whereby all trafic is warned to stop for a time to give clear right of way to fire engines, ambulances and the like, when this switch is in operation. It is, of course, to be understood that any of the mercury switches may be applied to any one of the above mentioned set of signals as desired, and that such system as is disclosed in our application Serial No. 39,634, above referred to, or any other desired system for operating the relays, may be used. Rotary switches which are used to cause a number of circuits to operate in timed and sequential relation to each other are Well kllOWIll as are the systems in which they function, and any sys term or circuit maker and breaker which will cause the north and south 1 can So lights and the east and west red op lights to operate for the desired time and thereafter cause all the amber caution lights to operate for the desired time and then the east and west west traflic should green Go lights and the north and south.

red Stop lights to operate for the desired time and then all the amber caution lights to again operate for 'the desired time and then the north and south green Go lights and the east and west red Stop lights to operate 'as previously, and so on, are systems with which our relay may be used to great advantage. That is, any device which will cause the current to flow through the upper coils in one direction for a given time, then discontinue such current and cause it to pass through the lower coils to close the lower left mercury switch for a giventime, then discontinue such current and cause it to pass in the other direction through the upper coils for a given time, then discontinue such current and cause it to actuate the lower left mercury switch again, etc., etc., may be used. Automatically operating devices are well known for such purposes. Such operation as just described may be controlled by a main circuit switch, closing of which causes functioning to take place as just described and the opening of which causes such functioning to cease. Such a switch may be manually operated at the will of the operator but automatic operation is preferred. The switch which controls the circuit which causes the proper relay, say the lower, to operate in such manner that the mercury switch controlling all the red Stop signals in all directions will operate, for example by causing the left end of the lower armature to rise to close the lower right mercury switch, is preferably manually operated as the stopping of all trafiic becomes necessary at unexpected times and is required for a previously unknown time.

The switch controlling the operation of all the Stop signals is best in closed or o erative position only when the above mentioned main circuit switch is in open or inoperative position, and vice versa. Consequently it is preferred to combine these two switches into one manually operable double throw switch, so that when this switch is thrown to one side the signals operate and change automatically, while all the stop signals will be energized and there will be no automatic change when this switch is thrown to the other side.

The amber Gaution signals may be made to flash on at the moment that the green Go and red Stop signals are extinguished, and vice versa, or the Caution si nals may be flashed on before the Go and mp signals are extinguished, and vice versa, so that there is some overlapping of signals. This may be adjusted as desired by suitably adjusting the rotary switch used to control the timed and se uential operation of the electro-magnets,

inding posts d6 may be located upon the panel 1 for the purpose of making suitable connections to the various circuits, and connections therefrom may be made to the proper points by means of insulated conductors (not shown) upon the rear of the anel.

While the above description relates merely to one crossing for the purpose of convenience, it will be understood that a series of such mechanisms may be employed as ilments, a pair of roeka to enter into an extended discussion of the other mechanism because in each the operation and construction are the same, and a common source of current may be used to operate like functioning parts simultaneously and such current for different crossings may be controlled by the same rotary switch. It is understood that similar signals may be made to appear along a series of crossings, or when desired the signals may be staggered as may be found suitable for existing conditions.

An outstanding advantage of our traflic control system heretofore described resides in the fact that it may readily be installed in cities or sizeable towns having electrical lighting circuit, and police and fire alarm circuits. It will be apparent that both the current from the lightingcircuit as well as the current from the police and fire alarm circuit are utilized. In the operation of our traffic control system, it is quite evident that such trafiic control system may be installed without the necessity of digging up streets to lay wires leading from other sources of supply, thereby reducing to a minimum the expense of installation inherent in systems requiring a source of current supply independent from circuits already installed.

It is also to be understood that the simultaneous operation of a number of control sets of the type described is insured because of the unique arrangement and manner of control, this being a distinct improvement over sys tems employing synchronous motors o erating individual sets because it is practica ly an impossibilit to maintain accurately conjoint operation 0 a number of such motors, and as a result the different signals do not operate together.

2. In a relay, a pair of electro-magnets, a lever pivoted at its upper end adjacent to the upper ends of said electro-magnets, an armature disposed at the lower ends of said electromagnets, and having an upwardly projecting bar, means to connect the upper end of the bar to a point intermediate the ends of the lever so as to rock the lever by the armature movement, a pair of rotary mercury switches disposed below the armature, an arm extending outwardly from each switch, a member pivoted to and connecting the arms, the lower end of the lever extending below said connecting member, abutments on the connecting member engageable with opposite sides of the lower end of the lever, and coil springs below the member connected to opposite sides of the lower end of the lever to tension the latter.

3. In a relay, a pair of 'clectro-magnets, a lever pivoted at its upper end adjacent to the upper ends of said electro-magnets, an armal ure disposed at the lower ends of said electromagnets, and having an upwardly projecti ng bar, means to connect the upper end of the bar to a point intermediate the ends of the lever so as to rock the lever by the armature movement, a pair of rotary mercury switches disposed below the armature, an arm extending outwardly from each switch, a member pivoted to and connecting the arms, the lower end of the lever extending below said connecting member, abutments on the connecting member engageable with opposite sides of the lower end of the lever, and means to normally hold the lever in vertical neutral osition.

JULIUS J. BEVIN TON. EDl/VARD N. ROSENBERG.

ture disposed at the lower ends of said electromagnets and having an upwardly projecting bar, means to connect the upper end of the bar to a point intermediate the ends of the lever so as to rock the lever by le mercury switches disposed below the armature, an arm on each switch, a member pivoted to and connecting the armsi said lever having its lower end disposed a jacent to the connecting member,

means on the connecting member to engae the said lower end of the lever to o erate t e latter, and means to normally hol the lever in vertical neutral position.

the armature move- 

